Sampling device and system

ABSTRACT

A sampling system for obtaining an individual or a representative sample from a storage silo comprises a plurality of individual sample stations each having an auger driven by an electric motor and reciprocated by a linear actuator with each sample station being connected to a common conduit leading to a central sample container.

United States Patent Mallander et al.

[45] Nov. 12, 1974 I 1 SAMPLING DEVICE AND SYSTEM [75] Inventors: Richard G. Mallander, Wheatridge;

John H. Lake, Lakewood, both of [73] Assignee: Shell Oil Company, Houston, Tex.

[22] Filed: May 21, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 362,623

[52] U.S. Cl. 73/423 R, 73/421 B, 73/424 [51] Int. Cl. GOIn 1/16 [58] Field of Search 73/421 B, 423 R, 424, 425,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Irwin 73/425.2

2.681772 7/1954 Peterson .4 73/424 3.267.737 8/1966 Biebighauser 73/423 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 80,078 4/1952 Norway 73/421 B Primary Eramz'ner-S. Clement Swisher [57] ABSTRACT A sampling system for obtaining an individual or a representative sample from a storage silo comprises a plurality of individual sample stations each having an auger driven by an electric motor and reciprocated by a linear actuator with each sample station being connected to a common conduit leading to a central sample container.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures MTENTEDHUV 12 I974 SHEET 3 OF 3 F/G.3A

PATENTEDHUV 12 1914 3,847,023

SHEET 30F 3 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sampling system and is particularly suited for obtaining an individual or a representative sample from a silo or other storage container wherein a solid material in aggregate form is being stored.

2. Description of the Prior Art Commercially available sampling devices for sampling coal, for example, obtain samples from a main conveyor belt used in transferring the material to or from the main storage silo. One such system uses a knife-type cutting device that periodically cuts a sample from the main conveyor belt to collect a representative sample of the material. This type of sampling system provides information as to the quality of the mate- I rial going to storage or removed from storage, but does not provide information as to the condition of the product during storage. The condition of the product during storage is of prime importance with products such as coal, wheat or other product that can develop hot-spots during storage. The development of a hot-spot can lead to spontaneous combustion and result in destruction of the facility as well as possible loss of life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore one purpose of the present invention to provide a sampling system for obtaining an individual or a representative sample of a product being stored in a silo or other container. I

According to the present invention a sampling device for accomplishing the purpose of the present invention comprises:

a guide sleeve having a conduit attached thereto, the conduit being in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide sleeve;

an auger rotatably mounted within the guide sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally with respect to the guide sleeve, the auger having a shaft portion extending from one thereof;

first means connected to the shaft portion of the auger for rotating the auger; and

second means for moving saidauger longitudinally in two directions, said second means being connected to said first means. i

It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide a common conduit in communication with the conduit attached to the guide sleeve, the common conduit in turn leading to and terminating at a central sample container. 7

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a system that is simple in operation and suited for operation in an explosive or other hazardous environment;

DESCRIPTION OF THE. DRAWINGS The nature of the present invention will be more fully appreciated with reference to the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical sampling system installation in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1 showing the essential components of an individual samler; p FIG. 3A is an end view of the sampler shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 illustrates in more detail some of the components shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates in more detail a portion of sampler shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the traveling sleeve shown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT There is shown in FIGS 1 and 2 a sampling system according to the present invention installed on a vertical silo 10' used in storing a solid material in aggregate form. A plurality of individual sampling devices 12 are installed in spaced apart relationship in both a vertical and horizontal direction about the outer diameter or surface of the silo 10 with each sampler 12 being in communication with the interior of the silo l0 and with a fallway chute 11 which leads to a central sample container or collector 14.

The major components of each sampling device 12 are shown in FIG. 3 and generally include an electrohydraulic actuator 30, an electric motor 24, and auger 21 and a guide sleeve 20. If the system is to be used on new silo under construction a form sleeve 42 (FIG. 4) is preset in the concrete form during the construction of the silo 10. However, installation at an existing silo can be easily accomplished by drilling or boring a hole through the existing silo wall and the sleeve 42 can then be grouted in place. After the form sleeve 42 has been satisfactorily installed, a ring 43 is centered on sleeve 42 and weldably attached about the circumference of sleeve 42 as at weld 44. The ring 43 is provided with a plurality of studs 45 to secure an adapter ring 39 to which the actuator 30 is attached by means of the mounting 33. The adapter ring 39 is also weldably attached to a guide sleeve 20 by means of a circumferential weld 40.

A fallway tube or conduit 24 is attached to the guide sleeve 20 toward the end of the guide 20 away from the silo wall and is installed such that its longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide sleeve 20. The guide sleeve 20 also has a cutout portion in its wall that is substantially the same size as the inner diameter of the conduit 24 for the sample to pass therethrough. The guide sleeve 20 by being secured to the ring 39 is stationary and is of a length that at least equals the total of length of the auger 21 and the anticipated travel of the actuator 30. Preferably, the actuator has electro-hydraulic solenoid valves for automatic speed control and safety limit switches to control overtravel. I

A traveling sleeve 23 is preferably provided for sliding movement within the stationary guide sleeve 20. The traveling sleeve 23 has-at least one longitudinal key slot 37 as shown in FIG. 6 which cooperates with a removable'key 36 installed in the guide sleeve 20. The key slot 37 moves relative to the key 36 as the traveling sleeve moves in and out'of the silo 10 by means of the actuator 30, acting through the motor 24 and 21. While only one key slot has been shown, it is within the contemplation of the invention to provide any number of key slots and keys. In a hazardous environment the parts that move relative to each other would, of course, be of a non-sparking material and would also he adoquately grounded to prevent build-up of static electricity. The traveling sleeve 23 also has a fallway opening 60 that is somewhat similar to the opening in the stationary guide sleeve 20 but its shape corresponds to a cylinder cut in half along its longitudinal axis.

The end of the traveling sleeve 23 away from the silo wall has a circular plate 48 in which a central bore 48 is cut and into which a bearing 50 is installed. A pair of thrustors 52 are provided on each side of the bearing 50 and are removably secured to the shaft 22 of the auger 21. A seal 51 is also provided on each face of the bearing 50 and bears against the'bearing on one side and a thrustor 52 on the other to protect the bearing from wear caused by the entry of foreign material. Therefore, as the auger is moved longitudinally, one of the thrustors 50 engages the end plate 48 and moves the traveling sleeve 23 relatively to the guide sleeve 20.

A face mounted three phase motor 24 is connected to the auger shaft 22 and is an adapter 61 to connect the motor 24 to the linear actuator rod 31 by means of a pin 32 or equivalent means.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the adapter 61 extends downwardly and then parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor 24 and carries a pair of spaced apart parallel track members (channels) 62 with each track member 62 being adapted to carry a pair of rollers 63. A pair of support members 64 is then attached to the side wall of the silo. The track and roller system provides additional support and reduces friction as well as wear on the bearing 50. The rollers and track also prevent undue twisting load to be applied to the actuator 30 and rod 31.

In operation, the number of individual sampling stations is naturally dictated by the circumstances and requirements of the particular installation. While in FIGS. 1 and 2 an installation has been illustrated wherein only about one-half of the silo is capable of being sampled, and identical installation could easily be provided on the opposite half. The electrical and hydraulic hookups have not been shown but each station is capable of independent operation as well as being capable of sequential operation with respect to the other stations or all the stations may be operated in unison to obtain a representative sample. We claim as our invention:

1. A sampling device for solid material in an aggregate form comprising, in combination:

a guide sleeve having one end open and having a conduit from said guide sleeve near the other end, the conduit being in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide sleeve;

a sample-withdrawing auger rotatably mounted within the guide sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally with respect to the guide sleeve, the auger having a shaft portion extending from one end thereof, the other end of the auger being positioned in and extendible from the open end of the guide sleeve to pull material into the sleeve;

first means connected to the shaft portion of said auger for rotating the auger; and

second means for moving said auger longitudinally in two directions into and out of contact with the aggregate material being sampled, said second means being connected to said first means.

2. The sampling device of claim 1 wherein the first means is an electric motor.

3. The sampling device of claim 1 wherein the second means is an electro-hydraulic linear actuator.

4. The sampling device of claim 1 further including a traveling sleeve interposed between the guide sleeve and the auger, the traveling sleeve having at least one longitudinal key slot on its outside diameter to mate with at least one key provided in the guide sleeve, the traveling sleeve being further maintained in a fixed relationship to the auger such that the auger and traveling sleeve move in unison longitudinally. 

1. A sampling device for solid material in an aggregate form comprising, in combination: a guide sleeve having one end open and having a conduit from said guide sleeve near the other end, the conduit being in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide sleeve; a sample-withdrawing auger rotatably mounted within the guide sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally with respect to the guide sleeve, the auger having a shaft portion extending from one end thereof, the other end of the auger being positioned in and extendible from the open end of the guide sleeve to pull material into the sleeve; first means connected to the shaft portion of said auger for rotating the auger; and second means for moving said auger longitudinally in two directions into and out of contact with the aggregate material being sampled, said second means being connected to said first means.
 2. The sampling device of claim 1 wherein the first means is an electric motor.
 3. The sampling device of claim 1 wherein the second means is an electro-hydraulic linear actuator.
 4. The sampling device of claim 1 further including a traveling sleeve interposed between the guide sleeve and the auger, the traveling sleeve having at least one longitudinal key slot on its outside diameter to mate with at least one key provided in the guide sleeve, the traveling sleeve being further maintained in a fixed relationship to the auger such that the auger and traveling sleeve move in unison longitudinally. 